摘要
To investigate seasonal variations in the digestive functions of sika deer, five female sika deer were provided with an amount of alfalfa hay cubes equivalent to voluntary food intake during winter. We measured the rate at which the food passed through the digestive tract, digestibility and rumen fermentation during the summer (August), autumn (November), winter (February) and spring (May). Total mean retention time in the digestive tract during summer and autumn was numerically longer than that in winter and spring, but the difference did not reach significance. Organic matter and fiber were less digestible in summer and autumn than in winter and spring (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibility of the dry matter tended to vary with the seasons (P < 0.1). Ruminal pH values seasonally changed (P < 0.01), and were the lowest in autumn. The concentration of ruminal ammonia-nitrogen differed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), increasing in winter and decreasing during spring and summer. The numbers of protozoa changed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn than in winter and spring, and intermediate in summer. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was not seasonally affected, but the molar percentages of propionic acid and butyric acid significantly changed according to season (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the ratio of acetic to propionic acid tended to change with the seasons (P < 0.1). The results of this study suggested that the digestive functions in sika deer, fed a commercial diet at a restricted level, differed notably among the seasons and these variations might partially be due to environmental effects.
摘要译文
调查季节性差异而梅花鹿的消化功能，五女梅花鹿提供了与苜蓿干草立方体相当于自愿的食物的摄入量在冬季的金额。我们测定该食品的夏季（八月），秋（月），冬季（2月）和弹簧（五月）期间通过的消化道，消化率和瘤胃发酵的速率。夏秋季在消化道总平均停留时间为数字长于冬，春季，但差异不显着。有机物质和纤维较少易消化夏秋季比冬季和春季（P瘤胃的pH值改变季节性（P在冬季增加，春季和夏季减少。原生动物的季节中显著改变的数字（P而在夏天的中间。总挥发性脂肪酸的浓度不经季节性影响，但丙酸和丁酸的摩尔百分数显著根据季节（改变P和乙酸丙酸的比率倾向于随季节改变（P联储商业饮食在禁区水平，尤其是在不同季节之间以及这些变化可能部分是由于环境的影响。
Sanae ASANO[1]; Shoshichi IKEDA[2]; Yuzo KUROKAWA[1]; Shuhei KANDA[1] and Hisao ITABASHI[1,*];. Seasonal changes in digestibility, passage rate and rumen fermentation of alfalfa hay in sika deer (Cervus nippon) under restricted feeding[J]. Animal Science Journal, 2007,78(1): 28-33